Welcome Home Connects New Residents to Their Community

When it comes to moving to Batavia, Jennifer Zack makes it her business to ensure new residents feel right at home through useful information, local business discounts and helpful resources.

Zack is the owner of Welcome Home Batavia, a more than 20-year organization that hand delivers welcome packets featuring free introductory gifts, discounts and details about local businesses to new residents.

Moving can be difficult and overwhelming whether it's across town or from a different state or country, Zack said. "It is Welcome Home's job to help open doors to recent movers by introducing them to community resources and local businesses with a free Welcome Packet," she said.

Welcome Home also serves local businesses by providing opportunities to showcase their brand to new residents. Businesses working with Welcome Home have the chance to be among the first merchants newly established residents encounter.

"By providing information, discounts and promotional items, business owners are inviting new residents to come visit them," Zack said. "The hope is they will establish a long-lasting relationship."

Zack, who sums up her work with a quote by Jan Gunnarssen - "In a world where products and services are increasingly alike, the art of making people feel welcome is a decisive factor for success"- also oversees Welcome Home North Aurora. She welcomes about 300 new movers a year.

"I love meeting newcomers," Zack said. "I never know who is behind the door when I knock, and everyone has a story. It is all about connections - connecting recent movers to the community we now share.

Among the sponsors who help make Welcome Home Batavia possible is The Gerald Auto Group.

"Any newcomer looking at the car in front of them is more than likely looking at a Gerald license plate frame," Zack said. "Having such a well-established and well-known business raises the value of the welcome packet."

Donna Lawler of The Gerald Auto Group said Gerald is proud to be part of welcoming new residents to the community.

"Welcome Home offers a personalized approach to connect with new residents and make them aware of everything their community has to offer," Lawler said. "We love helping to reach newcomers and letting them know how glad we are to have them."

For more information on Welcome Home Batavia, visit https://welcomehomebatavia.com. For more information on The Gerald Auto Group visit www.geraldcars.com.